Recent advances in developing and applying biosensors for synthetic biology

Biosensors are an indispensable component of the synthetic biologist's toolbox. Informed by biology and customized through rational design and evolutionary methods, these molecular protein scaffolds translate input signals into tractable outputs. By using biosensors to introduce synthetic gene circuits and cellular signaling pathways into host organisms, naturally-occurring biological processes can be harnessed and tailored for a wide range of applications. In this review, we have compiled recent innovations and advancements that have led to the generation of robust, reliable, and flexible biosensors for utility across basic biological research and synthetic biology tools, including biological engineering efforts and clinical applications.